Dollycas’s Thoughts

In the second installment of this series Tally Holt is throwing a party to welcome her parents home from their worldly travels for a short time. She has even put an invitation in the local paper so all their friends can stop by to see them. She also hopes to draw in some new customers to her vintage candy shop.

The guests of honor arrive along with a big crush of people. Tally sure is happy she hired extra help for the event. If the new hires work out she hopes to make them permanent employees, something she desperately needs.

A little later Tally’s mother isn’t feeling well so the party starts to wrap up but as the guests are leaving Fran Abraham keels over dead. She had been arguing with Tally’s mom about something just a few minutes before she died. To be safe her dad takes her mom to the hospital to be sure she doesn’t meet the same fate as the town’s cantankerous theater director.

The police put their main focus on the treats Tally served and who had access to them as they await the actual cause of Fran’s death. But if it was the candy, wouldn’t more people be sick or dead?

With Tally and her parents as prime suspects and the fate of her shop hanging in the balance Tally asks her best friend, Yolanda to help her find the real killer. But will their snooping put them right in the killer’s path? Things could get sticky in their quest to get the killer behind bars, and I am not talking chocolate ones!

After reading the first book in this series I felt I needed to know the main characters better to get invested in their lives and I was happy to see Tally’s parents in this story so we could more insight into Tally. Turned out Bob and Nancy had some pretty juicy secrets of their own and quite a backstory to tell. Tally learned a lot and so did I. I still want Tally to have more depth. We did get to know Yolanda a bit better. She and Tally do have a strong friendship. There is a lot of room for development for both characters. Again, Maine Coon Cat, Nigel stole my heart. I will say I was not a fan though of the point-of-view switching back and forth between the two BFFs. It really messed with the flow of the story.

Tally does hire three new employees. I am amazed she hadn’t hired someone sooner. One is a great hire, another is okay, and the third I would have shown the door within 5 minutes. Tally came across as a really wishy-washy boss and really put a lot of trust in someone she just met. I do worry about her business sense and the future of her shop. She just doesn’t come across as someone who ran another successful business prior to opening this shop in Fredricksburg.

It was very apparent that Tally’s actions had to be iffy to move the story in the intended direction of the author. Ms. George wrote a mystery that really wasn’t a mystery for the reader. The guilty party was evident to me immediately. I also didn’t like the fact that Tally really didn’t do much investigating. She was nosy and found out things she should have already known. To be a successful amateur sleuth her observation skills really need work. I found the ending frustrating as well because it was so abrupt. I thought there must have been pages missing from the book, but sadly that was not the case.

I did enjoy many parts of this story. I love the theme of a vintage candy shop. I love that Tally’s parents are world-traveling performers. I love Nigel the cat. That being said, Deadly Sweet Tooth is a light cozy mystery that needs a stronger protagonist. I also really wish the mystery was more complex. The author has given the series a nice foundation to build upon but I am on the fence about reading book three in the series, Into the Sweet Hereafter.

I did not like the first book all that much. Some characters were so rude and unlikable. Yet I decided to read the second book, it can take a book or two for a series to get good. I found the second time around I pretty much felt the same way. It's just missing something and is not as good as it could be.

Revenge Is Sweet, Deadly Sweet Tooth and Into the Sweet Hereafter by Kaye George are the first three books of the cozy Vintage Sweets Mysteries series. Each book of the series does contain it’s own mystery to be solved so they can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. There is however some character development that carries over from book to book for those that read the series from the beginning.

The Vintage Sweets Mysteries series features Tally Holt who owns Tally’s Olde Tyme Sweets in Fredericksburg, Texas where she recreates her grandmother’s old recipes. Tally is good friends with the owner of the shop next door, Bella’s Baskets, Yolanda Bella. Tally and Yolanda’s first adventure in nabbing a murderer came when Tally found a body in her kitchen that had been stabbed with Yolanda’s scissors so of course they need to cross themselves off the suspect list. From the on Tally and Bella have had to again and again track down murderers in the quaint town.

The Vintage Sweets Mysteries series is another cozy mystery series that really seems to have all the things I could ask for in a mystery series but yet I still found myself walking away thinking just that was alright. There was just a spark missing that really pulls me into loving cozy series and I thought perhaps it was just having more characters and shorter stories that didn’t give a lot of chance for depth but even after reading the first three I just wasn’t wowed and that the were just ok mysteries.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

A cozy mystery with engaging characters and adorable animals, the mystery will keep you guessing. I enjoyed so much I finished in one day

Deadly Sweet Tooth had me at the cover. It is beautiful and takes me back to my childhood dreams. I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I didn't get drawn in to the story like I wanted to. It seems like of slow to begin for me and I was really invested in the story, however I liked it well enough to read the next installment if there is one and to have an open mind.

The story line of this book is good, but the ending was rushed and needed more time to be effective. The characters are only sometimes realistic.

Tally’s Olde Tyme Sweets is located in Fredericksburg, Texas. Remember the treats you loved as a kid? Tally sells those—Twinkies, mallomars, whoopie pies, Mary Janes, Clark bars—all made from scratch right in the store. Tally’s best friend, Yolanda, has a gift basket shop next door. Life is good.

Tally’s brother, Cole, is on his way. The last time he visited, he left a Maine Coon cat for Tally to adopt—without asking her about it. Who can resist an extra-large sized cat named Nigel? Tally couldn’t.

Tally’s hosting a reception for her parents, coming for their first visit. The party is a roaring success, but there’s always one person who wants to spoil the party. That’s Fran. She and her husband, Len, were once good friends with Tally’s parents. Now that’s a thing of the past.

There are other personal dramas on the menu as well. There’s a young woman hanging on Len’s arm and his every word, much to Fran’s disgust. She may not like her husband, but she’s not willing to share.

Fran starts a loud argument with Tally’s folks when Tally’s mom is already feeling ill. Moments after Tally’s parents leave the party to get some rest, Fran collapses and is rushed to the hospital.

While Tally’s mom recovers, the same can’t be said for Fran who was poisoned, With a goal of clearing her parents of suspicion and to protect the store, Tally vows to find other suspects—and just maybe, the killer.

This is the second book in the series. Tally is keeping supply ahead of demand (barely) and loving her business. She’s hired three new retail clerks on probation. Her love life could use improvement but that’s for another day.

For a good mystery and sweet treats, head to Fredericksburg. Find the recipe for homemade whoopie pies at the back of the book. Sticky fingers may make the pages hard to turn, but it will be worth it.

The second book in the Vintage Sweets Mystery series by Kaye George is Deadly Sweet Tooth. I had a few issues with the main character Tally in the first book, but I decided to give the second one a try. Tally is hosting a party for her parents and hires three new employees. When a guest at the party is murdered, Tally's dad becomes the main suspect. Unfortunately the murderer was quite obvious the first time the character was introduced. Aside from the weak mystery, I had several issues with the book. First Tally is completely incompetent. Two of the people she hires are candidates for the worst employees in the world, yet she continues to let them work. Second Tally does not even listen when people talk and instead makes up her own "clues". Third in the South "y'all" is only used when referring to more than two people. When one person walks up to you, do not ask if "y'all want to sit down?". Finally either I was missing a chapter near the end or the author gave up. Sadly I am giving up on this series after two strikes.

Princess Fuzzypants here: What should. have been a joyous homecoming for her parents is marred by the murder of an old frenemy at the party to celebrate their return. Bad enough it happened in Tallie’s shop but her parents, appear to be the top suspects in her murder. True, there was bad blood between the former friends and partners but whether it would amount to motive for murder remains to be seen. However, it seems there are forces determined to pin the murder on one of them.
At the same time Tallie is struggling with staffing issues, she must try to figure out who is to blame. She also finds out a lot of things about her parents that in retrospect she wishes she could forget.. There are some unexpected skeletons in their closet. And one of them may just be out to haunt them for the rest of their lives. Thankfully, Callie has an excellent support system in the furry form of Nigel, her Maine Coon. He makes a good story even better.
Five purrs and two paws up.

I really liked the premise of this book. The sweet shop setting in Texas opens up a lot of possibilities. However, I had a hard time investing in the characters. The main character always seemed stressed and that made me stressed. Some of the plot elements seemed to come together too easily or not at all. The mystery was compelling and even though I figured out the mystery about 2/3rds of the way through, I was wrong about some of the circumstances. A fine book, just not for me.

This series is becoming a favorite and I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
It's well written, the cast of characters is likeable, the setting lovely and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
Can't wait for the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Deadly Sweet Tooth is the second book in Kaye George's Vintage Sweets mystery series. This book has a beautiful eye-catching cover and a great premise - Tally owns a sweets shop where she makes her own delectable treats like Mary Janes, Whoopie Pies, Twinkies, Clark Bars, and more.

However, it took me a long time to get into this book. The pace is slow with not a lot of action.

I was able to guess the killer almost from the beginning. My guess was confirmed about 40% into the book, when it was basically handed out to the reader on a silver platter. No twists, no surprises, and the ending was too abrupt.

Her brother comes into town, but is barely in the book at all . I would have liked to see more of their relationship.

Allen, as a potential love interest for Tally, is bland milquetoast. I don't know why Tally thinks that she likes him. He definitely drags down the story.

My favorite character was Lily. She was the shining star of the book and the most likeable.

I would give the next book in the series another chance, to see if there is more action and character development.

I received this book as an advanced copy from the publisher through NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

A riveting mystery with plenty of suspects, some family drama and likable characters who are like visiting old friends. My only quibble, and it may have been fixed in the retail version, I felt like there was a chapter missing between the reveal/amateur sleuth in trouble and the next event the businesses had. There was no rescue, arrest or confessional.

Deadly Sweet Tooth by Kaye George is the second in the series.
It is an easy to read cozy with great main characters. I wish I had a quirky neighbor like the protagonist, Tally, has! There are plenty of twists and turns that have you guessing to the end. There is even a hint of romance.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

Thank you @netgalley for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Book 2 in the Vintage Sweets Mysteries. The setting of this book is what originally caught my attention. Not only does it take place in a candy shop, but it’s set in Fredericksburg, Tx. A cute town located under 2 hours from where I live. It’s known for its peaches, German heritage, wineries and full of wonderful little shops to meander through. I can definitely picture Tally’s Old Tyme Sweets being an actual shop in the heart of the town.

I liked Tally. She was a hard worker and had quite a lot to handle when her father is accused of murdering the local theater director. Her mom is also suffering from a sudden illness and she’s having trouble finding reliable workers for her candy shop. There was a lot going on in this story, especially when Tally starts uncovering secrets that her parents hoped to never share with their daughter. I definitely had my suspicions, but was still surprised to see how everything was tied together.

Yolanda was a fabulous character and perfect bestie. The narration switched to her perspective at times and I really enjoyed learning about her. She’s sweet on another local business owner and also trying to support her sister who brings her girlfriend home to meet their disapproving parents.

My only critique was that the mystery wrapped up rather abruptly, leaving me wanting a little extra explanation.

The book concludes with a recipe for Whoopie Pies and a sneak peek at book 3, Into the Sweet Hereafter.

‘Deadly Sweet Tooth‘ is the second title in ‘The Vintage Sweets Mysteries‘ series. Although at 3 stars I consider this a “good” story, I think that this is the point where this series and I part ways. There are several reasons for that decision but mostly because I really want my heroines in Cozy Mysteries to have some clue as to what they’re doing when investigating a crime, especially one that involves family. They don’t have to be perfect, but being clueless just doesn’t work. For me, the bad guys were overly obvious and yet Tally overlooked clues that seemed to draw a line directly in that direction. That along with some basic inconsistencies between the first book and the second just, well, I’m going to say that this series just isn’t for me and leave it at that.

No two people read the same book. That is so very true for we all bring our own experiences, biases, and gut reactions to every book we read. I saw very little ‘mystery’ in this story but you may not view it that way at all. For me, ‘Deadly Sweet Tooth‘ was a good story, one that I quickly figured out. If you enjoy Cozy Mysteries, then give this one a try. A review is just one person’s opinion, you should form your own.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Deadly Sweet Tooth by Kaye George, (who also writes as Janet Cantrell,) is the 2nd book in the Vintage Sweets Mysteries series. I have read and enjoyed the first in series. This is a fun series about a sweet shop in a small town with likable charcters you will enjoy knowing. Thank you for the ARC to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinion is my own.

In our second visit to the sweet shop in Fredericksburg Texas and to Tally happily running her sweet shop and creating wonderful sweets. Tally is hosting a party for her parents who are visiting. They are traveling performers and cannot visit often so Tally wants to welcome them with a party with good food and all her friends. When a murder occurs of a local theater actor Tally's Father is suspect number one. Talley does not hesitate to step up and investigate to save her Father and find the real suspect.

I like the red herrings the author presented throughout the story. The charcters are all likable and the shop is fun to read about. I look forward to my next visit to the sweet shop and Tally and friends.

I enjoyed reading this wonderful book. I liked the twist and turns and for me I found it fast paced. It was well written and held my attention. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Deadly Sweet Tooth by Kaye George has Tally Holt preparing a reception for her parents, Bob & Nancy Holt who have been performing around the world. Tally is holding the party at her shop, Tally’s Olde Tyme Sweets in Fredericksburg, Texas. She has hired three ladies to help at the event and hopes they will become permanent employees for her shop. The event begins well, but then Fran Abraham confronts Nancy Holt causing a scene. The meanspirited woman collapses soon thereafter and is rushed to the local hospital. Early the next morning, Tally gets a phone call from Detective Jackson Rogers announcing Fran has died and foul play is suspected. Unfortunately, the list of suspects includes Tally’s parents. Tally works to unwrap the clues and assemble the pieces so she can present the guilty party to the police. Deadly Sweet Tooth is the 2nd book in The Vintage Sweets Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone. I had mixed feelings about this cozy mystery. It is a light story featuring Tally’s sweet shop and Yolanda’s shop, Bella’s Baskets. The two are best friends with their shops next door to each other. The point-of-view switches between both ladies which can be confusing. They are so similar that it is hard to discern between them. I wish the author had written it the story in the third person instead (or just picked one of the protagonists). I found the characters lacking depth. They need more fleshing out to give them life. Tally and her shop are puzzling. She calls it Tally’s Olde Tyme Sweets, but it seems to feature more baked items than candy (homemade twinkies, Mary Jane’s, whoopie pies, etc.). She seems to lack experience with employees which becomes obvious with who she hires. Tally does not even contact references. I question this because we are told she sold a flourishing bakery to return to her hometown and open the sweet shop. The mystery was straightforward. I was able to identify the killer immediately (there might as well have been a giant neon arrow pointing at the person). Tally reacts to something near the end in an unexpected way (I wish I could say more but it would be a spoiler). My mother says that I am thinking about the situation too logically. Readers will have no problem solving this whodunit. The ending was abrupt. We go from an individual in peril to a party in swing at the local winery. There was no reveal scene that would wrap up the mystery. Tally did little investigating which was disappointing because I enjoy following the amateur sleuths as they investigate the crime. Deadly Sweet Tooth is lighthearted cozy mystery with lackadaisical laborers, toxic treats, a dead director, peripatetic parents, a determined detective, and a disquieted daughter.

This was a new to me author and series. For me, the book wasn't bad or good. The characters are clueless to the obvious. I knew pretty quick who the killer was. Nigel, a cat, was by far my favorite character. This is all just my opinion, somebody else may love the book.